Fireproof door.



E. R. LEONARD.

FIREPROOF DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED $313.18, 1911.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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1 0 Z 1 1 0 0 1 u" z a u r r o .n W. "A U v 1 7 HM u M J M M M w W m E 5Q MF 3. LEOND, 0F WOODCLIFF, NEW JERSEY.

FIREPROOF 1000B.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 18, 1911.

Fatented July 25, 1911.

Serial No. 609,487.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enos R. LEONARD, a citizen of the United States andof the State of New Jersey, residing at Woodclifi', New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Doors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fire-proof doors consisting essentially of awooden framework covered with sheet metal and provided withincombustible panels secured in the frame; and my improvements consistin the particulars hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved door; Fig.2 is an edge of the same; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on anenlarged scale, taken on the line X X of Fig. 1, part of theconstruction being broken away; and Fig. 4 shows a vertical section of amiddle rail modified to receive a single pane or panel instead of thedouble panels shown in Fig. 3.

The same reference numerals designate the same parts in all the figures.

The side stiles 1, 1, top rail 2, bottom rail 3, and middle rails 4, 4,are all madeiof Wood and are entirely covered with sheet metal 5, whichis drawn around them so as to leave no portion of these separate piecesof wood uncovered. The framework of the door is secured together by rods6, 6, passing entirely through the door from side to side, and havingtheir heads and their securing nuts 7, 7, countersunk.

Those portions of the sheet metal covering of the wooden frame whichsurround the panel openings, are bent out parallel to the framework inflanges 8, 9, which are se cured together by rivets 10, 10, the upperedge of one flange being then bent over the other and narrower flange,as shown in Fig. 3, thus making a clenched seam and efi'ectuallyguarding against the possibility of any flame coming in contact with thewood in case of fire.

At the interior angles I put corner plates 11, 11, which are riveted tothe flanges to stiffen the construction and hold them securely inosition; and over the flanges I slip retaining strips 12, 12, of sheetmetal, having a central groove to straddle the flange and being bentoutward at 13, 13, to rest against the rail, and being then bent up at14, 14, to form a panel-receiving groove.

To insert the panels 15, 15, which are preferably made of asbestosboard, but may be of glass or other incombustible material,

the flanges 14, 14, are bent down, and, after the panels have been putin place, are bent up again into the positions shown in the res.

Metal covered moldings 16, 16 are fitted in the angles between thepanels and the frame, and are secured in place by nails 17 17, driventhrough them and into the frame, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 3.These moldings 16, 16, are not necessary to the stability of the door,but are added to cover the metal flange construction and to give anattractive finish to the door.

It will be seen that by this construction the wooden frame is entirelycovered with metal so that not even at the joints can a flame reach thewood itself. Even the rods 6, 6, lying in the bottoms of the grooves inthe edges of the middle rails, are covered up by the sheet metal, andair cushions are formed between the edges of the panels and the railsand between the panels themselves, forming excellent non-conductors ofheat.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification wherein one panel 15, is usedinstead of two. In this case-the edges of the metal covering 5 arebrought together at one side of the panel receiving groove, beingriveted and clenched together as in the case of the preferred form, andsupport one side of the panel 15. The ornamental moldings 16 are madeheavier, in order to fill up the deeper angles left by the single panel,and are nailed in place, as already described.

By means of my improvement I secure a door which will withstand a veryhigh degree of heat and direct flames without becoming ignited, which isstrong and durable,

and the panels of which can be removed or replaced with little troubleif that is desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a fire-proof door, the combination of wooden rails and stilesseverally, completely covered with sheet metal the edges of which areformed into inwardly projecting flanges surrounding the panel spaces,grooved panel-holding strips straddling said flanges, and a panel heldin position by said strips.

2. In a fire-proof door, the combination of wooden rails and stilesseverally, completely covered with sheet metal the edges of which areformed into inwardly projecting flanges surrounding the panel spaces,grooved panelholding strips straddling said flanges, and a paneldetachably held in position by the upturned edges of said strips.

3. In a fire-proof door, the combination of wooden rails and stilesseverall completely covered with sheet metal the e ges of which areformed into inwardly projecting flanges surrounding the panel spaces,grooved panelholding strips straddling said flanges and having aircushions between their bases and the rails, and a panel held in positionby said strips.

4. In a fire-proof door, the combination of wooden rails and stilesseverall completely covered with sheet metal the e ges of which areformed into inwardly projecting flanges surrounding the panel spaces,grooved panelholding stri s straddling said flanges, and double pane s,with an air cushion between them, held in position by said strips.

5. In a fire-proof door, the combination of wooden rails and stilesseverall completel covered with sheet metal the edges of whic are formedinto inwardly projecting flanges surrounding the panel spaces, groovedpanelholding strips straddling said flanges, a panel held in osition bysaid strips, and ornamental mo dings in the angles between the panel andthe frame.

' ELOF R. LEONARD.

Witnesses:

HOWARD M. Rows, WILLIAM H. MOLER.

